Prank phone calls?

Question

I have a few questions about prank phone calls:
1) Are they legal?
2) If the above is not true, then how can radio stations do it?
3) Any good ideas for them?
4) How do you prank radio stations (like Z100)?

Answer 1

Prank calls become illegal when you dial the same number a second time. Then they are considered harassment.
I used to call people at random and say,"I'm sorry, YOU must have dialed the wrong number". You wouldn't believe the number of people who would apologize to me as if THEY made the call!!! :)
You can get around caller id by first dialing *67. This blocks your number from being displayed on the id on the other end. You'd be anonymous to that person....not sure if the phone company would have the correct number in their records.
I've always suspected that radio station pranks are staged. Like they get some intern at the station, put them at someone's desk and say...when we call...play along. That way it's almost spontaneous sounding.
For a radio station prank: call someone and tell them they'll win $1,000 if they can name three cars that start with P. They will come up with something like Pontiac, Porshe and Plymouth. You respond with, "I'm sorry, those all start with gas".
I don't know about pranking a station. Might be kinda hard to do with all the precautions they take i.e. delayed broadcast & call screeners. And the screeners ARE well trained to detect bogus calls.
Have a great day!

Answer 2

Prank phone calls are illegal. It is a disruption of the peace.
Radio stations can do it because they are all powerful. Plus the victim wouldn't have much of a case.
I don't really have any good ideas for the radio stations.
If you want to prank a station, just call and act like you're witnessing a murder on the other line or something. I would love to listen to that.

Answer 3

I don't know if prank calls themselves are illegal but I know if you call a person more than once it can be considered harrassment and that is illegal.

My friends and I used to call people and tell them they had won a contest all thay had to do was answer some questions then we would ask them really retarded questions. The people would actually give us their addresses to send the prize. Of course this was 15 plus years ago before caller ID.

I don't know how you would prank a radio station because the calls are screened before they reach the DJ

Answer 4

1. They are not legal.
2. Some radio stations do it for fun.
3. No good ideas come to my mind, but we used to call people and ask if their refrigerator was running. Also we would call a bar and ask if Ben Gay was there. Such fun as a younger person,.
4. I wouldn't even know where to start.

Answer 5

If they prank you several times you could charge them with harrassment I suppose. Some stations have a delay, so I don't know if you could prank them. :( If you still want to try, call and tell them you want to report a traffic incident or advertise a charity event or something, and then when you get on air, go off! :P Good luck.

Answer 6

I have an idea for a prank phone call. Pretend to be a bill collector and tell that person that their house will be reposessed if they do not pay 75 cents in 3 minutes to their billing company

Answer 7

uhmm i think it is illegal, but evry1 does it n e ways... the only thing, is that ppl can track you. cause one time, some kids pranked a teacher nd he called the cops nd tracked the phone call nd found out who it was. also, i hav no idea how radio stations do it other than, it may be planned??

Answer 8

dont try it!! I just got in so much trouble 4 pranking my teacher at 2:OO am. She considered pressing charges and took it to the DA

Answer 9

yes its legal, there is nothing illegal about them.....watch the show Crank Yankers thats all they do is pranks calls, it used to come on comedy central but i dont think it is still on the air, just do a google search for the show

Answer 10

radio stations pre-record everything, so they have had time to ask for the prankee's permission to play that spot. you have to be funny to get on the radio.